UK surname
A locational surname derived from a settlement or place called Hell.
In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Hell surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #25,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hell is 1,091 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 52.6%.
1881 census count
57
Ranked #25,575
Modern count
27
2016, ranked #36,189
Peak year
1861
1,091 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hell surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 373 | #6,385 |
| 1861 | historical | 1,091 | #2,574 |
| 1881 | historical | 57 | #25,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 94 | #24,820 |
| 1901 | historical | 194 | #15,425 |
| 1911 | historical | 128 | #19,664 |
| 1997 | modern | 24 | #35,376 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 19 | #36,007 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 19 | #35,991 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 22 | #36,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 26 | #36,228 |
| 2016 | modern | 27 | #36,189 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester, Lambeth and St Luke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Luke | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hell, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hell is of German origin, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "helle," which means "bright" or "shining." This name was likely given to someone who lived near a bright or sunny place or had fair hair or complexion.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hell surname is in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, Germany. In this record from 1292, a person named "Henricus Hell" is mentioned as a witness in a legal document.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Hell surname appeared in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. It was often associated with places or locations that had names containing the word "hell," such as Hellbronn, Hellbach, or Hellfeld.
In the 15th century, there are records of a German scholar named Johannes Hell (1430-1506), who was a professor of mathematics and astronomy at the University of Vienna. He is known for his work on planetary motions and his contributions to the development of the Gregorian calendar.
Another notable figure with the Hell surname was Johann Baptist Hell (1711-1789), an Austrian Jesuit astronomer and scientist. He was a pioneer in the study of auroras and conducted observations of the transit of Venus across the sun's disk.
In the 18th century, a German composer and organist named Johann Baptist Hell (1734-1804) gained recognition for his sacred and secular works. He served as the court organist in Würzburg and composed numerous masses, oratorios, and instrumental pieces.
The Hell surname also appeared in the United States in the 19th century, likely through German immigration. One example is John Hell (1817-1888), a German-American brewer and businessman who founded the Hell's Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Another notable American with this surname was Maximilian Hell (1832-1908), a German-born architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the St. Francis Xavier Church and the Church of St. John the Evangelist.
While the origins of the Hell surname can be traced back to medieval Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns of German-speaking populations over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 17 Hells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 17 | 2.62x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.83x |
| Surrey | 10 | 3.76x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.11x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 4.92x |
| Sussex | 4 | 4.35x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.45x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 2.13x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.37x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.50x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clitheroe in Lancashire leads with 17 Hells recorded in 1881 and an index of 890.05x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clitheroe | 17 | 890.05x |
| Lambeth | 10 | 21.00x |
| Hornsey | 7 | 101.45x |
| Hunslet | 6 | 71.09x |
| Elswick | 4 | 61.73x |
| Brighton | 3 | 16.16x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 4.36x |
| Aspatria | 1 | 222.22x |
| Chichester St Peter | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 3.40x |
| Hasketon | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Isleworth | 1 | 41.15x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 31.95x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 17.83x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Hell surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Hell a modern rank of #36,189.
A locational surname derived from a settlement or place called Hell.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.